“Alone we can do little, together we can do much.” – Helen Keller

November29

Putting together a timeline that spans five decades can be laborious, but the journey to completion can certainly be rewarding. Sierra Kamela, Hacienda’s Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations, shares her recent experience with journeying into the past.

When researching Hacienda’s history, I became fascinated by a group of women called the Madrinas. This group of women, whose name means godmothers in Spanish, came together in 1973 and formed an auxiliary to assist Hacienda with raising funds to build a permanent home for Hacienda’s children. When digging through the archives I learned that the Madrinas solicited help from prominent Arizona artist, Ted DeGrazia. Though some may remember Mr. DeGrazia for hauling 100 of his paintings on horseback into the Superstition Mountains and setting them ablaze, very few may know he was instrumental in helping the Madrinas raise funds for Hacienda.

Although Mr. DeGrazia did not donate money directly to the cause, he did grant Hacienda the rights to sell signed prints, jewelry, and porcelain plates of his painting called The Lord’s Candle. The Madrinas went to work selling items, priced anywhere from $5 to $80 for a signed print. The Madrinas netted a remarkable $30,000 for the Hacienda building fund in three short months. It goes without saying that Hacienda may not be here today were it not for the fundraising efforts of the Madrinas.

Though the Madrinas have retired from fundraising, several groups have assumed the mantle of Hacienda patron over the decades—some for more than 30 years. They include service organizations, employee booster clubs, tribal communities, and foundations. They have built swimming pools and apartments, added landscaping, purchased equipment and holiday gifts, and much more for the children and young adults in our care.

The work of the Madrinas and our ongoing benefactors can be summarized with a quote by Japanese poet, Satoro “Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”

Thank you to all of the individuals that come together and are committed to making a difference in special lives.